Kitsap Hospice Expanding Its Reach

Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun
Carpenter Jeff Walker of Drury Construction in Poulsbo works to remodel a meeting room and offices at the new Hospice of Kitsap County Care Center behind Belmont Terrace Monday.

Earlier this month Hospice of Kitsap County broke ground for its new care center along Lebo Boulevard in Bremerton.

The "breaking" may be better described as a "demolition" — of walls and other interior structures within the building owned and operated by Belmont Terrace.

Belmont Terrace is still running its nursing home within the building, although it no longer provides an assisted living facility for residents. The former assisted living area is being rebuilt to house the Hospice of Kitsap County's first care center.

Once complete the center will offer 15 private studios that will "avoid the feel of a hospital or nursing home environment" where people can choose to live during the final stages of their lives.

"Hospice is really designed for people to spend their last days in their home," said Jim Pledger, executive director for Hospice of Kitsap County. "But what we've found is, people can't do that. What we're finding is 50 percent, or over 50 percent, of the people we care for are in an assisted living facility."

It is estimated that, once complete, the center would double the number of patients and family members served each year by Hospice.

Unlike long-term care facilities — designed for years of care with a goal to rehabilitate patients — and hospitals — geared toward providing acute care for optimal wellness — the center would allow patients the opportunity to be in a homelike setting during their final days.

It will not only cater to its patients, but also family members by offering a family living room, dinning room, library and a chapel/meditation room.

"We are excited about the new relationship and what it will do for residents here," Robert Washbond, Belmont Terrace Administrator, said. "They (Hospice) handle some of our residents who live here now and those patients will have the option of possibly moving into the new facility when it's done."

As a nonprofit, Hospice of Kitsap County is funding the project from community donations. Initial cost estimates put construction at $1 million, Pledger said. Already the organization has received close to $800,000 from community businesses and private donations, but the organization is still campaigning to make up the final amount.

Three years ago Hospice board members began discussing the possibility of building a care center in Kitsap. Before moving forward with the concept, the board did its research to make sure the center would be utilized and supported by the community.

After conducting a yearlong feasibility study, the board learned there was an "overwhelming need in the county for this type of facility," Pledger said.

"We decided to jump in and do it," he said. "We've really received a lot of positive feedback from the community about opening this facility."

Once the decision was made to operate the care center, Pledger took the concept to Eric Anderson, CEO of Art Anderson Associates and an old friend from their Naval Academy days.

"You never bill your shipmate," Anderson said of the consultations and advice his company offered to the nonprofit.

"Hospice is such an easy organization to be a supporter of," he said. "I have everybody here that Jim needed to break this down and make it happen. We did a difficult thing, but it wasn't too laborious."

While Anderson down plays his contribution, stating his company helped Pledger "navigate the maze" of state regulations, Pledger says Anderson's work on the project at-cost without receiving a profit was instrumental in getting the project off the ground.

"You never get enough chances to do good things in life," Anderson said.

The care center is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of this year with patients moving in no later than January 2008.

Make A Donation

To make a donation to the Hospice of Kitsap County Care Center visit www.hospiceofkitsapcounty.org.